Take a listen...
What will history say about the pandemic? Economists will focus on its effects on supply-chains, inflation, the millions who simply elected to stop working, and hundreds of other direct and indirect results. Historians will focus on the causes, responses, and civil turmoil resulting from the many that politicized the pandemic for their own agenda. The rest will reflect on it based on our own experiences and beliefs.
A reflex reaction to the pandemic may be to wait it out and put plans on hold. A recent article from the BBC notes that one of the hidden effects of the pandemic is the strain it has put on mental health as a result of people entering into perpetual holding patterns.
I strongly considered deferring my first year of college. Ultimately, I didn’t put my plans on hold. I moved ahead. The net effect was completing my first year of college, but over a period of 18 months, not the originally planned 12. So I didn’t halt my plans, but I also learned that I could not "out plan" the pandemic. At the end of the day, however, moving ahead with my plans seems like it was the best way to go. It re-ordered my priorities and brought my future into view.
As noted by North Carolina State University professor of psychology, Shevaun Neupert, “… we’re all being made keenly aware that the control we thought we had is maybe more fragile than we believed.” The BBC article cites studies that show a strong correlation between depression and an unclear, on-hold future. To this end, Professor Neupert notes how important it is to adhere to our human nature, and keep making plans.
During the pandemic, many musicians could not play live gigs or get together in the studio. In response, many musicians turned to collaborating with others online. This collaboration occurs even between people who never met. I recently found a spoken word monologue placed online by actor/musician Kamal Imani. He invited folks to find inspiration in it and to use it musically. I did both. His piece is entitled “What Are You Working On” and it seems right in line with the findings of Professor Neupert.
My History Soundscape above is based on Mr. Imani’s words. I created it using his spoken word piece as delivered, with occasional effects such as delay. I wrote the musical composition, principally with a gospel feel, created a drum loop, and played each of the instrumental tracks live track-by-track. At the end I take his words “What Are You Working On?” and loop them over a more melodic part of the composition.
· See the BBC article here -- https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200720-how-planning-helps-us-cope-with-uncertainty